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Salem, Massachusetts |
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Salem Willows
Park, Salem Massachusetts. Fun for
the whole family.Play the Midway and win tickets for prizes. Beaches,
children's rides, amusement games, food & refreshments. March to
October, 10 am -11 pm. Free parking and admission. History: Salem Willows Park is named for the European white willow trees planted here in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients convalescing at the old smallpox hospital. Later the area became a park. During the first half of the 20th Century Restaurant Row on the park's North Shore served fresh seafood favored by locals and visitors alike. A Carousel with carved flying horses was another special attraction at Salem Willows which then, as now, operated an amusement center. Now, almost 100 years later Salem Willows provides a seaside promenade still popular throughout Essex County, Boston, and beyond. Visitors still flock here in the summer to enjoy the seashore, the arcade, the flying horses and ample picnic grounds and recreational facilities. Although the last of the original restaurants closed in the 1960's there are still several take out stands to choose from. One often overlooked feature of the amusement park is that parking is still free and there is no admission charge. Directly ahead, the expanse of Salem Sound is dotted with numerous islands belonging to the city. The largest is Baker's Island, which boasts a sizable summer community and has been the site of a navigational beacon since 1798. To the south of Salem Willows, across the entrance to Salem Harbor, lie the headlands of Marblehead. To the north, across Beverly Harbor, the shore stretches toward the rugged coast of Gloucester and the rest of Cape Ann. The area also possesses residential and historical importance. A tenting ground established in the mid 19th century gave way to summer cottages which are now the center of a distinctive year round neighborhood. Beyond this neighborhood, across the causeway lies Winter Island. Over the years it has served a multitude of purposes, including fish drying, shipbuilding, and public executions. Since the 1640's a fort there now known as Fort Pickering has defended the mouth of Salem Harbor. From the Civil War until 1971 most of Winter Island was under federal authority: it was used most recently as a Coast Guard base. Inland on the high ground in the center of Salem Neck, lies Fort Lee. Originally built in the 1740'sFort Lee joined Fort Pickering in providing protection for Salem's sea approaches for more than two centuries. More About Salem, Massachusetts
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Click on any photo to enlarge.
The Pier
The Bandstand / Shell
The Beverly Gold Coast
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